Apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine,muffler and spark arrestor



April 1, 1969 E. A. BUSSE 3,435,310

APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING EXHAUST GASES OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE,MUFFLER AND SPARK ARRESTOR Filed Oct. 15, 1967 Sheet of 2 II. [:51 J

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APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING EXHAUST GASES OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE,MUFFLER AND SPARK ARRESTOR Filed Oct. 13, 1967 Sheet 2 of 2 UnitedStates Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for utilizingexhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, muffler and sparkarrestor having a tubular casing with a helical partition mountedtherein so as to form a spiral passageway. An inlet pipe at the front ofthe casing delivers exhaust gases from an engine to the spiralpassageway, and as these gases are whirled through the passageway, theheavier and lighter components thereof are divided into separatestreams, and the lighter components of the centrifuged gases areconveyed to a carburetor to augment the engine operating charge, whilethe heavier components are recycled through the spiral passageway torecover additional lighter components that are delivered to thecarburetor. An outer housing is provided to serve as a muffler and tocollect ignited fragments contained in the exhaust gases so that theywill be extinguished without escaping to the atmosphere.

Summary It is proposed in this invention to provide an improvedapparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of an internal combustion engineby more etficiently separating the heavier expended inert componentsfrom the lighter combustible components, and recycling the heaviercomponents so as to recover any additional lighter components therefrom,and to convey substantially all of the lighter components of thecentrifuged exhaust gases to the carburetor.

Moreover, it is proposed to provide an outer housing that is providedwith a sump on its underside for collecting ignited fragments containedin the exhaust gases so that these fragments will be confined in thesump and will be extinguished without escaping to the atmosphere. Thisouter housing forms part of the recycling system for the heaviercomponents of the centrifuged exhaust gases, and perforated partitionsare provided in a compartment of this housing so as to substantiallyreduce the noise of the exhaust gases.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds,and the novel features of the invention will be pointed out in theappended claims.

Brief description of the drawings For a better understanding of theinvention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of my apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases ofan internal combustion engine, muffler and spark arrestor;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane 2-2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the plane 33 of FIG.2; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the plane 4-4 ofFIG. 1 on ane'nlarged scale.

While only the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown, itshould be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be madewithin the scope "ice of the appended claims without departing from thespirit thereof.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawings indetail, it will be noted that a tubular casing A is provided and itsfront end 10 has an inlet pipe 11 attached thereto, this pipe beingconnectible to an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine so thatexhaust gases from the engine will be delivered to the interior of thecasing. The latter is further provided at its rear end 12 with an outletpipe 13 leading to the atmosphere.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a helical partition B defines a plurality ofconvolutions 14 mounted in the tubular casing A and coacting therewithto form a spiral passageway C extending longitudinally of the casing,this spiral passageway communicating with the inlet pipe 11 so as toreceive a rapid flow of exhaust gases therefrom, whereby heavier andlighter components D and E, respectively, will be separated from oneanother by centrifugal force into outer and inner streams, respectively,as the exhaust gases whirl along the spiral passageway as indicated bythe arrows 15.

The heavier components D of the exhaust gases are combustibly inertwater vapor, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, while the lighter components Econtain hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide which may be employedefliciently to augment the engine operating charge. The lightercomponents E are conveyed by an outlet pipe 16 to a carburetor (notshown), as suggested by the legend TO CARBURETOR in FIG. 1. The detailsof this arrangement will be set forth as the specification continues.

As the specification proceeds, it will be apparent that means areoperable for recycling the heavier components D of the centrifugedexhaust gases through the spiral passageway C for recovering additionallighter components E of the exhaust gases that may be mixed therewith,whereby these additional lighter components may be conveyed to thecarburetor. The outlet pipe 13 communicates with the spiral passageway Cfor receiving the purified gases and conveying them to the atmosphere.

For the purpose of withdrawing the lighter components E of thecentrifuged exhaust gases, the convolutions 14 of the helical partitionB is provided with an axial passageway 17 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) extendingtherethrough from front to rear thereof, and through which the lightercomponents B may flow rearwardly, as suggested by the arrows 18. Also, aspiral conduit 19 is carried by the convolutions 14 of the helicalpartition B and extending from the rear of the latter toward the frontend 10 of the tubular casing A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, a substantially axial deflector 20 ismounted adjacent to the rear portion of the helical partition in aposition to scoop into and deflect the lighter components E of thecentrifuged exhaust gases from the axial passageway 17 into the spiralconduit 19, as suggested by the arrows 21 in FIGS. 2 and 4, thesecomponents passing through a slot 22 formed in a fitting 23 that issecured in the rear portion of the axial passageway .17. The rear end 24of this fitting is closed (see FIG. 4).

The outlet pipe 16 previously mentioned extends from the front end ofthe spiral conduit 19, and thus the lighter components E of thecentrifuged exhaust gases will be delivered to the engine carburetor.

The means for recycling the heavier components D of the centrifugedexhaust gases will now be described. It will be noted that an outerhousing F surrounds the tubular casing A and is spaced therefrom to forma compartment G therebetween (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 4). A first lateraldeflector 25 is carried by the tubular casing A to extend lengthwisethereof in a position to scoop into and deflect the heavier components Doutwardly from the spiral passageway C into the compartment G, assuggested by the arrows 26, these heavier components passing through aslot 27 formed in the tubular casing A (see FIG. 2). This slot extendssubstantially from the rear end 12 of the tubular casing to a point 28spaced rearwardly from the front 10 of the casing (see FIG. 1).

Moreover, a second lateral deflector 29 is carried by the tubular casingA to extend lengthwise thereof in .a position to scoop into and deflectthe heavier components D of the centrifuged exhaust gases inwardly fromthe compartment G and back into the spiral passageway C, as suggested bythe arrows 30, these components flowing through a slot 31 formed in thetubular casing A (see FIG. 2). The second lateral deflector 29 extendssubstantially from the front end 10 of the tubular casing to a point 32,but does not overlap the first lateral deflector 25. As shown in FIG. 1,the first and second lateral deflectors 25 and 29, respectively, aredisposed on opposite lateral sides of the tubular casing A.

Thus the heavier components D that enter the compartment G through theslot 27 must return toward the front end 10 of the tubular casing Abefore passing through the slot 31, as suggested by the arrows 33 inFIG. 4. This will permit heavy particles of the centrifugated exhaustgases to collect in a sump H on the underside of the housing F.Accordingly, ignited fragments contained in the exhaust gases, forinstance, carbon, lead oxides and water will be confined in the sump Hand will be extinguished without escaping to the atmosphere, and thisfeature constitutes the spark arrestor of the invention.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 4, it will be observed that perforatedpartitions 34 are provided in the compartment G between the tubularcasing A and the outer housing F so as to substantially reduce the noiseof the exhaust gases and, therefore, the mufller feature of theinvention is provided. These partitions, also, serve to hold the tubularcasing A and the outer housing F in spaced relation with respect to oneanother.

In FIG. 4, a removable inspection plate 35 has been designed which maybe periodically taken off to allow the amount of accumulations in thesump H to be determined.

The outlet pipe 16 may be connected to the intake manifold of theengine, if desired, instead of to the carburetor.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of an internal combustionengine, mufller and spark arrestor;

(a) .a tubular casing provided at its front end with an inlet pipeconnectible to an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine, andfurther being provided at its rear end with an outlet pipe leading tothe atmosphere;

(b) a helical partition defining a plurality of convolutions mounted inthe tubular casing and coacting therewith to form a spiral passagewayextending longitudinally of the casing, this spiral passagewaycommunicating with the inlet pipe so as to receive a rapid flow ofexhaust gases therefrom, whereby heavier and lighter components of theexhaust gases will be separated from one another by centrifugal forceinto outer and inner streams, respectively, as the exhaust gases whirlalong the spiral passageway;

() means operable for withdrawing the lighter components of thecentrifuged exhaust gases, and conveying them to an engine for use as apart of the engine operating charge;

((1) means operable for recycling the heavier components of thecentrifuged exhaust gases through the spiral passageway of the helicalpartition for recovering additional lighter components of the exhaustgases that may be mixed therewith, whereby these additional lighterComp0nnt m y e 9 Y t0 the engine;

(e) the outlet pipe communicating with the spiral passageway forreceiving the purified components of the exhaust gases and conveyingthem to the atmosphere.

2. The apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of an internal combustionengine, mufller and spark arrestor, as set forth in claim 1;

(f) and in which the means operable for withdrawing the lightercomponents of the centrifuged exhaust gases comprises:

(1) the convolutions of the helical partition being provided with anaxial passageway extending therethrough from front to rear thereof, andthrough which the lighter components of the centrifuged exhaust gasesmay flow rearwardly;

(2) a spiral conduit carried by the convolutions of the helicalpartition and extending from the rear of the latter toward the front ofthe tubular casing;

(3) a substantially axial deflector mounted adjacent to the rear portionof the helical partition in a position to scoop into and deflect thelighter components of the centrifuged exhaust gas from the axialpassageway into the spiral conduit;

(4) and an outlet pipe extending from the front end portion of thespiral conduit and made to be connected to the engine to deliver thelighter component of the centrifuged exhaust gas thereto.

3, The apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of an internal combustionengine, mufller and spark arrestor, as set forth in claim 2;

(g) and in which the substantially axial deflector is carried by afitting that is secured in the rear portion of the axial passageway.

4. The apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of an internal combustionengine, muffler and spark arrestor, as set forth in claim 1;

(f) and in which the means operable for recycling the heavier componentsof the centrifuged exhaust gases comprises:

(1) an outer housing surrounding the tubular casing and being spacedtherefrom to form a compartment therebetween;

(2) a first lateral deflector carried by the tubular casing to extendalong the length thereof in a position to scoop into and deflect theheavier components of the centrifuged exhaust gases outwardly from thespiral passageway of the helical partition into the compartment betweenthe tubular casing and the outer housing;

(3) and a second lateral deflector carried by the tubular casing toextend lengthwise thereof in a position to scoop into and deflect theheavier components of the centrifuged exhaust gases inwardly from thecompartment and back into the spiral passageway of the helicalpartition.

5. The apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of an internal combustionengine, mufller and spark arrestor, as set forth in claim 4;

(g) and in which the first lateral deflector extends substantially fromthe rear of the tubular casing to a point spaced rearwardly from thefront of that casing;

(h) and the second lateral deflector extends substantially from thefront of the tubular casing, but does not overlap the first lateraldeflector.

6. The apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of .an internal combustionengine, muffler and spark arrestor, as set forth in claim 5;

(i) and in which the first and second lateral deflectors are disposed onopposite lateral sides of the tubular casing.

7. The apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of an iuternal combustionengine, muifier and spark arrestor, as set forth in claim 4;

(g) and in which the outer housing is provided with a sump on itsunderside for collecting ignited fragments contained in the exhaustgases so that these fragments will be confined in the sump and will beextinguished without escaping to the atmosphere.

8. The apparatus for utilizing exhaust gases of an internal combustionengine, muffier and spark arrestor, as set forth in claim 4;

(g) and in which perforated partitions are provided in the compartmentbetween the tubular casing and the outer housing so as to substantiallyreduce the noise of the exhaust gases.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1939 Pratt 123-119 1/1954 Moore55-456 CARLTON R. CROYLE, Primary Examiner.

DOUGLAS HART, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

